USTA SC STATE REGULATIONS
Adult 18 & Over, 40 & Over, 55 & Over, 65 & Over, 70 & Over
League Year 2016
FINAL
0.0INTRODUCTION
USTA League Tennis National and Southern Regulations have full force and applicability at all levels of play in USTA League Tennis in the USTA Southern Section and there is no authorization to modify, amplify or change them by local or State League Coordinators, or Grievance or Grievance Appeals Committees
0.01USTA SChas appointed the USTA SC Director of Leagues to organize and coordinate all USTA League Tennis activities in the USTA SC State League and along with the USTA SC League Council interpret the USTA SC State Regulations.
0.02All players, teams and Local Leagues must abide by USTA League Tennis, USTA Southern Tennis andUSTA SCRules and Regulations.
0.03Local Leagues may write regulations to govern local play. USTA League Regulations, USTA Southern Tennis Regulations andUSTA SC StateRegulations take precedence over Local League Rules and Regulations.
0.04Local League Rules and Regulations must be approved by the USTA SC Director of Leagues prior to the start of the Local League Season.
0.05Local League Rules and Regulations must be distributed to Team Captains along
with USTA League Regulations, Southern Tennis Regulations andUSTA SCRules and Regulations before League Season begins.
0.06Paragraph numbering for the following sections is done in accordance with the paragraph numbering format of USTA League Tennis Regulations and USTA Southern Regulations. Topics addressed in specific paragraphs of these USTA SC State Regulations relate to the same topics in the same paragraphs of the aforesaid regulations.
0.07New regulations or changes in regulations are underline
Page 1 of 9
1.00 General
1.02 GOVERNANCE. The USTA LEAGUE REGULATIONS shall apply to the USTA League Program (USTA League). THE FRIEND AT COURT - The USTA Handbook of Tennis Rules and Regulations, including Wheelchair Rules of Tennis, shall apply to all matches played in USTA League except as modified herein. In all matches played without officials, the USTA official publication, THE CODE, shall be observed. The USTA Point Penalty System shall be used at all championship levels.
1.02C Written Interpretation.
The USTA SC Director of Leagues in conjunction with the USTA SCState League Council, shall have the authority to interpret the USTA SC State League Regulations.
1.04B Administration.
1.04B(3)b District/Area League Coordinators. Each District/Area shall have aDistrict/Area League Coordinator to implement and administer the USTA League. TheDistrict/Area shall have such geographic boundaries as the Sectional Association may determine.
1.04B(3)c Local League Coordinators. Each Local League shall have aLocal League Coordinator to implement and administer the USTA League. The USTA SC local league coordinators will be approved and/or retained on a yearly basis by the state league coordinators.
1.04B(4) Team Captain. Each team shall appoint a captain to manage team activitiesand to represent the team in USTA League matters.
1.04C(1) Official League Registration. TennisLink is the official system for registering teams and players for the USTA League. A player’s name must be listed on the team roster, as shown on TennisLink, prior to participation in any match. This includes any player who is added to a team roster after the commencement of local league play.Each local league must establish deadlines and procedures for registering teams on TennisLink. Initial Rosters must be entered in TennisLink before League play begins
1.04C(2)Score Reporting in TennisLink. In South Carolina Local Leagues may make a rule regarding team matches that are not entered in TennisLink within 48 hours of the completed match.
1.04D(5)a Local Leagues may limit the number of players that appear on a team roster and/or number of players that appear on that roster that are at a specific NTRP level.
1.04D(5)b Players may not move to a different team once match play has begun for that level, unless approved by the State League Coordinator. Local Leagues will set deadlines for registering players and for adding players to rosters. Players may not be added to the team roster during local league flight playoffs or at any championship. The State League Coordinator will inform Local Leagues of add-on deadlines for the State Championships.
1.04D (6)Number of Teams. When a Local League does not have the required number of Teams, (two teams) for Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over, Adult 55 & Over, Adult 65 & Over and Adult 70 & Over, to constitute a level, the affected Local League Coordinators, shall either:
(1)Offer to move that team to another age division offered in that area in that particular level, if applicable.
(2)Move individual players to another team in that area, if applicable, or move them to an “Extra Players” flight to hold for future play in other leagues, i.e. Mixed, Combo, etc.
(3)The Director of Leagues or State League Coordinator may move a singleton team to another area’s league tree only if it is agreed upon by both local league coordinators and accomplished before that recipient area’s deadline. Complete teams that are moved to play in a local league area other than theirhome local league must secure home courts in that local league they choose to participate unless both local league coordinators agree on something different.
(4)Refund all or a portion of the registration fee in accordance with the Local League policy.
1.04E Player Eligibility.
1.04E(1)a Each Local League team must maintain its roster with at least 60 percent of its players withSouth Carolina Residencethrough the South Carolina State Championships(theplayer’s primary residence is to be defined in USTA records as South Carolina).
1.04E(1)bTeams playing local league competition at District Championships must maintain their rosters with at least 60 percent of its players with South Carolina Residence, as indicated by the player’s primary residence.
1.04E(2) Membership. All individuals who compete in the USTA League must be current USTA members in good standing through the local league season.Any individual who progresses to a championship level in the USTA League must be a current USTA member through each championship progression.
1.04E(2)aUSTA South Carolina Local League fees for Adult, Mixed, Combo Doubles and Singles Leagues: Fees are $6.00 and must be paid for EACH LEAGUE TEAM (Adult,18 & Over; Adult 40 & Over; Adult 55 & Over; Adult 65 & Over, Adult 70 & Over, Mixed Doubles,18 & Over, 40 & Over, 55 & Over, 65 & Over, Combo Doubles, 18 & Over, 40 & Over, 55 & Over, 65 & Over played on during each League season.
1.04E(3) Age. Each player shall have reached the required minimum age prior to or during the calendar year in which such player participates in his or her first local league.
1.04G Player Participation Eligibility
1.04G(1) League players may play in the USTA League Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over, Adult 55 & Over, Adult 65 & Over, and 70 & Over Divisions, if applicable, during the same local league season.
1.04G(2) A player may only play on one team in an NTRP level within an Age Group in the same local league during the same season. In local leagues where NTRP levels are divided into flights, a player may not play in more than one flight.
1.04G(3) A player may play on more than one team in an NTRP level within an Age Group in the sameseason provided it is in separatelocal leagues. South Carolina has the authority to accept or deny participation.
1.04G(3)(a) A player may play at the same NTRP level in the Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over,Adult 55 & Over, Adult 65 & Over, and Adult 70 & Over age divisions, if age applicable, on teams in separate Local Leagues in South Carolina during the same season.
1.04G(4)(a) During the South Carolina Local League Season a player may play on more than one NTRP level in the Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over, Adult 55 & Over, Adult 65 & Over and Adult 70 & Over age divisions, if age applicable, in the same Local League during the same season.
1.04G(5) A player may play up to one NTRP level above the player’s current NTRP level.
1.04G(6) Players who qualify for South Carolina Adult Championships may advance on more than one team within an Age Group only if they are at different NTRP levels (i.e.,a player can play on an Adult 18 & over 3.5 and 4.0 team) but with no schedule accommodations.
2.01 Local League Competition
2.01A Levels offered for Men and Women
Adult 18& Over: 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5,5.0+
Adult 40 & Over 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5+
Adult 55 & Over: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 9.0
Adult 65 & Over: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 9.0
Adult 70 & Over: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0
USTA Local League Season:
Initial team registration deadlines for local play:
55 & Overno later than February 3, 2016
70 & Overno later than February 3, 2016
40 & Overno later than February 3, 2016
18 & Over no later than February 3, 2016
65 & Overno later than August 14, 2016
Local play cannot conclude after:
55 & Overno later than April 10, 2016
70 & Overno later than April 10, 2016
40 & Overno later than May 2, 2016
18 & Overno later than May 9, 2016
65 & Overno later than October 16, 2016
State League Coordinators may amend these dates if needed, including playoffs.
2.01C Competition Format
2.01C(3) USTA South Carolina - For Local League Competition and State Championships all matches will be the best of two tiebreak sets with a match tiebreak inlieu of athird set.
Procedures in the Event of a Tie for Local Play (If a Local League has a playoff, it will defer to championship procedures in the event of a tie. Please refer to national regulation
(1) Team Wins
(2) Individual Wins
(3)Sets. Loser of the fewest number of sets.
(4)Games. Loser of the fewest number of games.
(5) Head to Head. Winner of the head-to-head match
Local leagues have the option to choose the procedure with Head-to-head after Individual Wins in their local league play.
2.01C(5)(a) Team Lineups
a. Local Leagues may make a rule regarding rescheduling of matches due to
inclement weather.
b. Local Leagues may make a rule regarding the maximum number of defaults
allowed teams during the Local League Season.
c.Local Leagues may set their policy for players’ presence on court to receive
a default.
2.02 Progression
2.02A Local League
2.02A(1)Local League Competition Each team that wins a specific level of local league competition shall be entitled to advance to the next level of competition if otherwise eligible.
2.02A(2)Local League ChampionsAt the conclusion of local league competition, the Local League Coordinator shall certify to the USTA SC State League Coordinator the results of the local league competition and the name(s) of the team captain(s). Local league competition must be concluded prior to the deadline set by the State League Coordinator.
2.02A(3) Local Leagues cannot extend their deadline date past their Local League Season, unless approved by the USTA SC State League Coordinator.
2.02B Championships
2.02B(a) All NTRP levels in the Adult 18 & Over, 40 & Over, 55 & Over, 65 & Over and 70 & Over divisions must play a local league in order to advance to District Championships except as noted in 2.02B(c).
2.02B(b) The winner of each specific NTRP level in each age division in local league competition shall be entitled to advance to the State Championship. If the winning team is unable to attend, an alternate team, preferably the 2nd place team, can be asked to advance.
2.02B(c) The State League Coordinator will determine the number of teams in the 18 & Over Men’s 2.5 and Men’s and Women’s 5.0+ levels, the 40 & Over Men’s and Women’s 4.5+ level, the 55 & Over Men’s and Women’s 9.0 level, the 65 & Over Men’s and Women’s 9.0 level and the 70 & Over Men’s and Women’s 4.0 level to qualify to advance to the State Championships to play their local league once the team rosters for these levels have been submitted. Legal team rosters for these levels must be submitted by the initial league deadline date for the area in which the team is registering.
South Carolina Adult Championship Dates for 2016
April 28-30 Adult 70 & Over, Hilton Head - Levels 3.0, 3.5, 4.0
April 30-May 2 Adult 55 & Over, Hilton Head - Levels 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 9.0
May 14-16 Adult 40 & Over, Aiken - Levels 3.0 3.5, 4.0, 4.5+
May 28-30Adult 18 & Over, Aiken - Levels 4.0, 4.5, 5.0+
June 4-6 Adult 18 & Over, Greenville - Level 2.5, 3.0, 3.5.
Sept.9-12Mixed Doubles, Florence – all age divisions
October 20-24 Combo Doubles, Hilton Head
Nov. 3-5 75 & Over Invitational, Hilton Head – Levels 3.0, 3.5, 4.0
Nov. 5-7 Adult 65 & Over, Hilton Head – Levels 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 9.0
Nov. 19-21 Singles League, Charleston – all age divisions
2.02B(1)District/Area Championships.
Competition will be offered at the USTA SC State Championships at the following levels:
Adult 18 & Over: 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0+ (men and women)
Adult 40 & Over: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5+ (men and women)
Adult 55 & Over: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 9.0(men and women)
Adult 65 & Over: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 9.0 (men and women)
Adult 70 & Over: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 (men and women)
A player must play in at least 2 Local League matches in order to qualify to play at USTA SC Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over and Adult 55 & Over State Championship (a default received counts towards advancement).
A player must play in at least 1 Local League match in order to qualify to play at the USTA SC Adult 65 & Over and 70 & Over State Championship (a default received counts towards advancement).
2.03C Scoring
All matches will be the better of two tiebreak sets with a match tiebreak in lieu of third set.
The tiebreak shall be scored as 1-set and 1-game for tiebreak purposes.
2.03D Competition Format
USTA South Carolina- will use a round robin format in all levels of competition.
USTA South Carolina- may issue wildcards to fill a championship draw.
2.03E(1)Championship Draw: The Championship Draw is a random draw done by the championship referee once local league competition is completed and rosters for State Championship entry are received. If possible, teams from the same local league will be put in separate flights. The number of flights at a given level will depend on the number of teams eligible. The championship referee will determine, before league competition is completed, if wildcards are needed to balance out the flights. A flight typically will have four teams. Local Leagues receiving a wildcard for the championships will be eligible for a wildcard at the same level/flights the following year. Flights must have a minimum of six (6) teams to be eligible for a wildcard.
2.03E(1)(a)Semifinal Wildcard for draws with 3 flights at the Championship:When a draw has three flights, a wildcard will be drawn at random (from the numbers 1, 2, 3) by the referee on the final day of round-robin play to determine which flight’s second place team will play in the semifinals. The wildcard team will play a team from another flight.
2.03F(a) – If a team has a known default, (not enough players to field a complete team) the opposing team will have the opportunity to adjust their scorecard either in doubles by moving the third place positionto the second place position or in singlesby moving the second place position to the first place position. The default will not be given until both scorecards have been received by the Site Director and after consulting with the captain receiving the default, scorecards will be adjusted by the Site Director.
2.03F(b) Any team defaulting a court for any reason at the State Championships will incur a $100 fine payable immediately (cash or check) for each court defaulted. If a team does not pay the fine, a grievance may be filed against all players on the state roster, which could result in the suspension of play from any USTA League play until the fine is paid. It is your team’s responsibility to have players on every court at each match at a state championship.
2.03H Procedures in the Event of a Tie.At Championships:In the event of a tie, whether in round robin or single elimination competition, the tie shall be broken by the first of the following procedures that does so:
2.03H(1) Individual Matches. Winner of the most individual matches.
2.01E(2): Head-to-head. Winner of head-to-head match.
2.01E(3): Sets. Loser of the fewest number of sets.
2.01E(4): Games. Loser of the fewest number of games.
2.03L(a) Scoring of Team Defaults, If a team defaults an entire team match for any reason during round robin play, then all matches of that team played, or to be played, shall be null and voidwhen determining standings. If all teams in contention for the championships have already played the defaulting team in good faith, those matches stand as played.
2.03L(b)A $250.00 Deposit from each team advancing to the championships is required
and any team withdrawing from a championship after the deadline for submitting paperwork to the USTA SC State League Coordinator will be subject to a fine of $250.00 per team, payable to USTA SC. The Deposit is to be sent to the Local League Coordinator to hold until the championship is completed. If the team completes the championship, the Local League Coordinator will destroy the check. A grievance may be filed against the withdrawing team in addition to the $250 fine. Penalties against these team members may include that all members on the submitted roster be banned from participating in any USTA leagues for a period of up to 364 days.
2.03L(c) If a team defaults an entire match during a championship, a grievance may be filed against all members on the team roster that is submitted for the championship. Sanctions against the team members may include that all members on the submitted roster be banned from participating in any USTA leaguesfor a period of up to 364 days.
2.03L(d) Teams that withdraw from the Championships after the roster/fee submittal deadline date will forfeit fees. Championship fees must be submitted by the Championship deadline date along with the rosters for each team participating at the championships. A team substituted for the withdrawing team will not be responsible for championship fees other than for those players exceeding the number of players paid for by the withdrawing team. If fees were not paid by the withdrawing team, that team’s Local League will pay fees. Recovery of championship fees will be up to the appropriate Local Leagues.
2.04 NTRP Dynamic Disqualification and Review Procedures
2.04B(2)b(a) Local play occurring at the State Championships: Players will be permitted to play in the entire event but, if a Self-Rate (S) or Medical Appeal promotion occurs when the ratings are run at the conclusion of the tournament, those matches shall be handled in the following manner: the player shall cease play immediately from the NTRP Level being promoted from and graduate to the next NTRP level. All prior matches shall stand in good faith.